It was Mike Ashley's appointment of Dennis Wise as "director of football" that took us back THREE YEARS! Spanish striker Xisco arrived on Tyneside in a £5.7million switch from Deportivo la Coruna in September 2008, along with that of loan signing Nacho Gonzalez.
That proved the final straw for then manager Kevin Keegan, who walked out days later having had little to do with the signings.
Spaniard, Txiki Begiristain, who formerly held the same role at Barcelona, joined City last weekend, with the club announcing his role would include supporting Mancini in player recruitment.
Mancini: "I want to decide which players we take, this is normal for every manager. I worked with Brian for three years, he was sporting director, I think Txiki will do the same job.
"I have my job and Txiki will have his job. I don't want to go to talk with other teams to buy players, this is not my job. Like every sporting director, he will talk with me before buying players.
"I am very happy. He has a lot of experience with a top club like Barca. If we did well in the last two years, I think we can do better in the future.
"If people write that Txiki is here and maybe next year Guardiola will arrive or another manager, this is not my problem. I'm here, I want to continue to work well because I think we are ready to improve and build a stronger team."
Source: Newcastle United Mad
Source: FOOTYMAD
